Mark Worthington,
Member of One of PC’s Founding Families
late round of billiards against Bob Hatch at the Campbell
and Hatch Billiard Parlor. His brother, Wyatt, along with
Frank Stilwell and Indian Charlie, were there watching
him. The shooter shot Morgan Earp through the upper part
of a four-pane window. Two shots were fired; one hit Earp
in the right side, shattering his spine, and the other bullet
went into the wall above brother Wyatt’s head. No one is
sure if it was Cruz’s gun that fired the fatal shot.
The second gun is a .41-caliber Colt single-action army
revolver, and a beautiful example of great craftsmanship.
This beautiful work of art is fully custom engraved with
brass and silver, along with steer-head ivory grips. In the
grips there are eyes carved out with red gems. This gun at
one time belonged to western actor Tom Mix in the late
1960s, early 70s. The gun came out of a collection that
held over 500 Colt single-action revolvers.
DECEMBER 2016
PA R K E R C O U N T Y T O D AY
Mark Worthington became an avid gun collector over 20
years ago because of his keen interest in western history.
“I’m interested in the history of the guns,”
Worthington explained. “My guns don’t get shot because
of how valuable they are. I keep them in an expensive
safe to keep them safe from environmental elements.”
With a wide assortment of guns in his large collection,
there are two that he finds the most fascinating.
This Mexican-made gun was made to replicate
a Smith and Wesson. The story behind it is one gun
collectors love to tell. Worthington believes that this gun
is possibly the gun that killed Morgan Earp, Wyatt Earp’s
brother, two months after the shootout at the O.K. Corral.
The gun, owned by Indian Charlie, aka Floretino Cruz,
was there the night Earp was killed.
History records that the youngest Earp was playing a
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Photos by Steve Schillio